Strategic Education Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) to Issue Quarterly Dividend of $0.60

Strategic Education Inc. (NASDAQ:STRA) announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, July 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 4th will be given a dividend of 0.60 per share by the health services provider on Monday, September 14th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 4th.

Strategic Education has a payout ratio of 35.9% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Strategic Education to earn $8.12 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $2.40 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 29.6%.

Strategic Education Stock Performance

NASDAQ STRA opened at $87.62 on Thursday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $78.81 and a 200 day simple moving average of $80.15. Strategic Education has a twelve month low of $69.70 and a twelve month high of $87.86. The stock has a market cap of $1.98 billion, a PE ratio of 15.48, a PEG ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 0.50.

Strategic Education (NASDAQ:STRA) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 29th. The health services provider reported $1.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.80 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $321.60 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $327.55 million. Strategic Education had a net margin of 10.21% and a return on equity of 8.78%. The company’s revenue was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.54 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Strategic Education will post 7.2 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Christa Hokenson sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.00, for a total value of $160,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 65,195 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,215,600. This represents a 2.98% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Insiders own 3.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Strategic Education

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Allworth Financial LP grew its holdings in shares of Strategic Education by 88.5% in the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 294 shares of the health services provider’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 138 shares during the last quarter. Axiom Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Strategic Education during the 1st quarter valued at about $25,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. lifted its holdings in Strategic Education by 154.2% during the 4th quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 333 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 202 shares during the last quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its position in Strategic Education by 85.2% in the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 387 shares of the health services provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 178 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sankala Group LLC acquired a new position in Strategic Education in the fourth quarter valued at about $37,000. 93.27% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Strategic Education

Strategic Education, Inc is a publicly traded higher education services holding company headquartered in Herndon, Virginia. Through its primary operating subsidiaries, Strayer University and Capella University, the company delivers degree programs and professional development opportunities to working adults. Its offerings span undergraduate and graduate degrees, certificates, continuing education, and workforce training in fields such as business, technology, health services, education, and public administration.

Strayer University, with a network of physical campuses across the United States complemented by an online platform, provides associate’s through doctoral degrees designed to accommodate non-traditional students.